Models for the evolution of GC content in asexual fungi Candida albicans and C. dubliniensis.

ABSTRACT: Although guanine-cytosine (GC)-biased gene conversion (gBGC) following meiotic recombination seems the most probable mechanism accounting for large-scale variations in GC content for many eukaryotes, it cannot explain such variations for organisms belonging to ancient asexual lineages, such as the pathogenic fungi Candida albicans and C. dubliniensis. Analysis of the substitution patterns for these two species reveals a strong anticorrelation between the synonymous transition rates at third codon positions. I propose two models that can account for this observation. According to the first model, the evolution of GC content is driven by gBGC linked to mitotic recombination, either associated with parasexuality or with damage repair. Variations in the GC content thus reflect variations in th

SUBMITTER: Marsolier-Kergoat MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3845650 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature